The Jamaican bobsleigh team have hit the Sundance Film Festival to save their Winter Olympics dream – but, as well as much-needed funding, admit they’ve also got their eyes on some female movie stars too.

Thomas, whose team have been training in Wyoming, added: ‘What we really need now is money to buy the equipment, specifically the runners [skates attached to the bobsled]. The runners that we are using are very close to illegal right now.’

Dixon said: ‘We just want to go up there and do our best. I’m one of the best brakeman in the world right now.’

Another brakeman Wayne Blackwood backed up Dixon’s assertion that the team can be more than just lovable underdogs in Sochi.

He said: ‘That’s what we want, equipment – and we are up there with them. Despite being from a tropical country, we don’t think of lots of obstacles. We stay focused.’